Shots (on goal)

Saves

Fouls

Corner Kicks

Offsides

The Short Story: Senior Emilie Soares scored in her fifth straight game and junior Kendell Combs tallied the game-winner in the 51st minute as the VCU Field Hockey team picked up its first Atlantic 10 win of the year with a 5-2 defeat of St. Louis.

How It Happened

After a slow start, the Rams came alive in the middle of the first half with a seven shots over a eight-minute span, peppering the St. Louis keeper with four shots on goal.

Redshirt freshmen Erika Bielien broke the scoreless drought when she put home a rebound right in front of the cage in the 23rd minute to give VCU a 1-0 advantage.

The Rams continue to rip shots at the SLU keeper, but couldn't break with a second goal before the break.

Soares would get the scoring going in the second half when she tipped in a corner off an assist from Combs and classmate Stephanie DeMasi in the 44th minute to make it a 2-0 game.

SLU answered quickly when Meredith Jeffers found the back of the cage two minutes later to cut the VCU lead to 2-1.

Combs would help the Rams answer right back as she blasted a shot off a corner to regain a two-goal cushion at 3-1. DeMasi and senior Nicole Barry helped set up Combs' fifth goal of the year.

Yet again, SLU responded when Jami Alexander scored three minutes later to make it 3-2 in favor of the Black & Gold.

Freshman Alexis Schramm took a feed from Soares in the 64th minute and added an insurance goal to push VCU's advantage to 4-2.

Senior Kelsey Powell finished the scoring on the afternoon when she took a feed from Soares and found the back of the cage in the 68th minute to make it 5-2.

Beyond the Box Score

DeMasi's two assists increased her school record 27 career assists. Previous record was 24 held by Stephanie Whitlow and Kelsey Scherrer.

Soares scored for the fifth straight game and has scored 10 goals in the past seven games.

Soares' 12 goals this year now rank eighth most in a single season in VCU history. Her 31 points also rank as the eighth most in a single season in school history.

Quotable

"Today's game showed us the importance of the basics. When we worked hard off the ball and really focused we were able to play some nice hockey and get the goals we needed. To start off the weekend scoring five goals is great for us and we look forward to being back at Cary Street on Sunday." – Head Coach Laura Baker

"We started off a little frantic, but we found a way to pull together and come out with a strong win. It was great that five different players scored, it was truly a team win." – Senior Steph DeMasi

"Today was a good win for us. We knew what we needed to do and were able to get it done this afternoon. I look forward to continuing to work hard and take this momentum into Sunday's game against Saint Francis" – Senior Emilie Soares

Up Next

The Rams return home on Sunday for new Atlantic 10 Conference foe Saint Francis. Game time at Cary Street Field is set for 1 p.m.